Solana 2010

[sunny hill archer]

I reckon everyone is still getting home. So I'll kick things off.

The wet Fall made things tough on us this year. The deer had plenty of browse and were not hitting the feeders as hard. We still managed to have a good hunt though. There were a lot of new faces this year. All that meant was a lot of new friends.

[FerretWYO]

Looking forward to it.

[sunny hill archer]

Here are some pics on the 1st afternoon.


 


 


 

[sunny hill archer]

Gregg bout needed all those arrows one afternoon...... But I'll let him tell that story when he gets back from Odessa with his son.

 

[sunny hill archer]

My first afternoon was kind of slow.No hogs 2 small bucks and 3 does.


The next morning the wind was squirrely and I only saw a small buck and a doe.

[leatherneck]

[sunny hill archer]

Thursday afternoon the wind was out of the north and a front was coming. Ole Shep asked me if I wanted to sit in a ground blind. After experiencing a front move in from a tree last year I jumped on that!!!!!!!

[sunny hill archer]

I found out later that night that particular ground blind was called "The Death Trap". Boy howdy did it ever live up to that name New Years Eve night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maineac]

First chance I have had to get on, as I didn't make it into my driveway until 4:15 this morning.  climbed into bed and then went into school at 7.  My eyes are burning and my mind is a bit muddled on only an hour and half of sleep on the last leg of the journey.  It was a great time, even if a bit slow for Texas standards.  I will say that from my first experience there those deer are wired!  I'll let Michael continue his story.  I was sitting in a tree a couple of hundred yards away gripping the limb with my butt cheeks to keep from being blown out by the steady wind and stronger gusts.  I kept picturing Michael in that comfortable ground blind tucked in all those wind breaking branches.  Little did I know that was not the only benefit of that little blind.

[FerretWYO]

I think that Charlie said in greggs thread not to turn down the chance at one of those ground blinds.

[sunny hill archer]

The first deer to come in was a big doe. She was sort of
 calm(relatively speaking that is). I looked closely at the set up and it was sweet!  A small lane in front and a lane to the right. As I waited I thought a out all those nice bucks everyone else tagged over the years. Tarzan told me before I got out I was due. Boy... He should have played the lottery that day.  Gotta go to Webelos. See ya later.

[wapiti792]

Awwww man...looks like I better brew some coffee  

[hogdancer]

I'd love to hear about your trip I missed it this year, but,  I'll have to check back in a few days when you ladies have FINALLY said what you got to say !  

[COOCH]

I was supposed to be at this hunt this year I am major league bummed about not getting to me Y'all.I was on my way to the airport and took a spill on some black ice and got busted up pretty good.Between the pain,the perks and tylananol and lack of mobility it just wasn't  ment to be this year.Enough about me bring on the stories and pics.      

[Bowhunter4life]

Hunted hard, as Michael said there was a lot of "green" down there...

Didn't see a shooter buck while on stand, and never drew my bow on a deer...

I did see the best doe fight I've ever seen.  Two groups of does came into the feeder on the second morning, they were 40 yards away from each other and had their ears back and hackles up.  Then it looked like a scened from West Side Story as they circled the feeder.  They finally squared up and reared up on their hind legs and pawed the heck out of each other.  This went on and on several times, probably all of 20 minutes or so.  I was so enthralled in the proceedings that I'd never thought to shoot one of them... then when I did finally went to shoot a cow came in and blew everything out of the area...

I saw more small bucks than I have ever seen there, 6 points or less... probably 20 - 25 overall the hunts.  On the last evening hunt I did have 15 or so tom turkeys come into the area several different times.  Robert had said the deer will not come into the feeder with them there.  So I had to figure out how to get drawn on one of them when they all know where the stand is...  I finally got drawn on a 8" Rio and took a shot.  Arrow went right where I wanted it to go, but if you think the deer are fast try a keyed up turkey!  He was probably 4 feet in the air when the arrow skipped off the rocks where he was standing a split second ago!

That was my trip in a nutshell hunting wise.  Hard hunting this year, but didn't stop me for a second on putting my deposit in for next year!

Met a lot of new folks this year, and formed some new friendships.  Of course seeing Peanut, Robert, David, John, Jim, and Gary was nice, and as always they did a bang up job as usual!  Terry, Michael, and I were the only "Vets" to the trip, and of course it was nice to see both of them again.

I'll let the people who took game spin their own yarns, so stay tuned!

[Chris Surtees]

Arrived at my families house about 0430 this morning. Still have another 4.5 hours until I get home and unpack my gear...that is where my camera is. So I will be back tomorrow with my story and pix.

All I can say is what I great time I had and am hoping to make the hunt next year.

It was a pleasure to share a camp with fellow Trad Ganger's. Great times and great folks!

Chris

[sunny hill archer]

Sorry Webelos ran into supper.  
Where was I.... Oh Yea in the Death Trap. I thought about David and Thomas.

 

[Larry Surtees]

What a one-of-a-kind hunt!  Solana staff labeled this as one of the slower hunts, but this being my first, it was a great experience.

Here are a few pics to share in the "Solana Experience":

A group of birds the first night -- there are many not pictured in front and in back of these

 

Outstanding TGers and Solana staff (you haven't lived until you've heard David's stories) and enjoyed all the "great" meals.

 

 

 

 

[sunny hill archer]

I thought about Curt.


 

[Larry Surtees]

Here are a few pics around the Ranch: